er, and that I had
undertook to show you the way to Chester, where you was going to hold
forth. And, thereupon, mad Archy out with one of his tremengious oaths,
and swore he would have a sarmint from you, for the good of his
blackguards, before they broke up."

"Mad Archy and his blackguards would have profited, no doubt, by my
spiritual lessons."

"Rather than let him have anything to say to you," proceeded Robinson,
"for you wa'n't prepared, seeing that you didn't hear what was going on,
though I spoke loud enough, on purpose, Major, for you to hear us
through the window; I up and told Archy, says I, I am a peaceable man,
but I'll be d----d if any minister of the gospel shall be insulted
whilst I have the care of him; and, furthermore, says I, I didn't come
here to interrupt no man; but if you, Archy Gibbs, or any one of your
crew, says one ondecent word to the parson, they'll run the risk of
being flung sprawling on this here floor, and that's as good as if I had
sworn to it; and as for you, Archy, I'll hold you accountable for the
good conduct of your whole squad. But, Major, you are about the hardest
man to take a wink I ever knowed. There was I a motioning of you, and
signifying to get your horse and be off, at least ten minutes before you
took the hint."

"I was near spoiling all, Galbraith, for from your familiarity with
these fellows I at first thought them friends."

"They were mighty dubious, you may depend. And it was as much as I could
do to keep them from breaking in on you. They said it was strange, and
so it was, to see a parson riding with pistols; but I told them you was
obliged to travel so much after night that it was as much as you could
do to keep clear of panthers and wolves; and in fact, major, I had to
tell them a monstrous sight of lies, just to keep them in talk whilst
you was getting away: it was like a rare guard scrummaging by platoons
on a retreat to get the advance off. I was monstrous afeard, major, you
wouldn't saddle my horse."

"I understood you at last, Galbraith, and made everything ready for a
masterly retreat, and then moved away with a very sober air, leaving you
to bring up the rear like a good soldier. And you know, sergeant, I
didn't go so far but that I was at hand to give you support, if you had
stood in need of it. I wonder now that they let you off so easily."

"They didn't want to have no uproar with me, Major Butler. They knowed
me, that although I wa'n't a quarre